Detachable display unit for portable video player device

ABSTRACT

A video player assembly comprises a video player device and a video display unit detachable from the video player device. The video player device includes a casing provided with at least one support slot formed thereon. In turn, the video display unit includes a video display panel including a viewing surface provided with a display screen and a base member pivotally mounted to the video display panel. The base member is detachably disposed within the display support slot of the player casing thereby forming a selectively releasable collection between the player casing and the video display panel. The video display panel is rotatable relative to the base member so that the video display panel has a deployed position and a stowed position. The video display unit may be removed from the video player device and independently supported by the base member on any substantially flat surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/509,918 filed Oct. 10, 2003 by S.Hussaini et al.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to consumer electronics in general, andmore particularly to a detachable, compact screen apparatus for aPORTABLE, electronic video-processing device, such as a DVD player.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Video entertainment devices are becoming increasingly popular. VCRs,DVDs, and similar electronic devices are commonly found in mosthouseholds today, particularly households having young children andteenagers. These devices generally have a box-shaped housing with aplurality of plugs for interfacing with multiple complementary devices.Typically, these electronic devices do not have a dedicated videodisplay screen, and are adapted to work with conventional TV monitors.Thus the portability of these devices is often limited to the videodisplay device to which they are connected. Moreover, most householdshave a limited number of televisions, and when one family member usesthe television as a video display device, other family members areunable to watch conventional televised entertainment. Thus there is aneed for a compact, detachable, portable video display device adapted tobe used with electronic video-processing devices. Such a needparticularly exists for video players, such as the DVD or VCD playersand VCRs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a video player assembly comprising a videoplayer device and a detachable video display unit designed to beremovably attached to the video player device.

In the preferred embodiment, the video display unit comprises videodisplay panel including a viewing surface provided with a displayscreen, and a base member pivotally mounted to the video display panel.In turn, the video player device includes a player casing provided withat least one display support slot formed thereon. The base member isdisposed within the at least one display support slot of the playercasing thereby forming a selectively releasable connection between theplayer casing and the video display panel.

Furthermore, a rear panel of the video player device is provided with arelease lever including a locking tab that engages a complementaryrecess formed in the base member of the video display unit to positivelyconnect the video player device to the base member of the video displayunit. Preferably, the release lever is formed as a flexible cantileverformed integrally with and extending along the rear panel of the videoplayer device to selectively facilitate bending the release lever intothe video player device to remove the locking tab from the complementaryrecess in the base member of the video display unit and release thevideo display unit from the video player device. The release lever has aribbed button surface adapted to be pressed upon to release the lockingtab from the complementary recess in the base member.

The video player device is adapted for pivotally supporting the videodisplay unit between a stowed position and a deployed position.

The video display unit may be removed from the video player device andindependently supported by the base member on any substantially flatsurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from astudy of the following specification when viewed in light of theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video display unit attached to aseparate video player device in a deployed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the video display unit attached to theseparate video player device in a stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the video player device;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the video player device;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the video player device;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the video player device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the video display unit;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a stand portion of a base member of the videodisplay unit;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the stand portion of a base member of the videodisplay unit;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a video display panel of the video displayunit;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the video display unit attached to theseparate video player device in a stowed position;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the plane indicated bythe line A-A in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a latch mechanism shownin a circle “B” in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the video display unit separated fromthe video player device;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the video display unit removed from thevideo player device and independently supported on a flat surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith the reference to accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of avideo player assembly 5 comprising an electronic video player device,such as a digital video disc (DVD) player 10, and a separate videodisplay unit 30 removably attached to the video player device 10. Itwill be appreciated that other appropriate electronic video playerdevices, such as video CD (VCD) players, VCRs, etc., are within thescope of the present invention. The video player device 10 is adaptedfor pivotally supporting the video display unit 30 between a stowedposition (shown in FIG. 2) and a deployed position (shown in FIG. 1).

The video display unit 30 comprises a base member 32 adapted to beremovably attached to the video player device 10, and a video displaypanel 42 pivotally mounted on the base member 32, as illustrated in FIG.7.

The DVD player device 10 of the particular exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3-6, includes asubstantially box-like casing 12 having a top panel 12 _(T) and a bottompanel, a front panel 12 _(F), a rear panel 12 _(R), and opposite sidepanels 12 _(RS) and 12 _(LS). The right side panel 12 _(RS) of thecasing 12 is provided with a slot 14 for inserting digital video discs(DVDs), shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the left side panel12 _(LS) of the casing 12 is provided with ventilating openings 15, twomonitor connecting sockets 16, an S-video output socket 17, a videooutput socket 18 a, two audio output sockets 18 b and a socket 20 for aDC/AC adapter (not shown). The sockets 17, 18 a and 18 b define a DVDplayer electrical interface adapted to be operably connected to anelectrical interface of the video display unit 30 and communicateelectrical signals therebetween. The top panel 12 _(T) of the casing 12is substantially flat and includes a plurality of control buttons 22provided to operate the DVD player device 10 and magnetic inserts 29, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

Furthermore, the rear panel 12 _(R) of the casing 12 has two oppositeextensions 24 a and 24 b each forming an open support slot 25 a and 25b, respectively, provided to receive the base member 32 of the videodisplay unit 30 therein to support the video display panel 42.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear panel 12 _(R) of thecasing 12 is provided with a release lever 26 including a locking tab 27that engages a complementary recess formed in the base member 32 of thevideo display unit 30 to positively connect the video player device 10to the base member 32 of the video display unit 30. Preferably, therelease lever 26 is formed as a flexible cantilever formed integrallywith and extending along the rear panel 12 _(R) of the casing 12 toselectively facilitate bending the release lever 26 into the playercasing 12 to remove the locking tab 27 from the complementary recess inthe base member 32 of the video display unit 30 and release the videodisplay unit 30 from the player casing 12. The release lever 26 has aribbed button surface 28 adapted to be pressed upon to release thelocking tab 27 from the complementary recess in the base member 32.

The base member 32 of the video display unit 30, illustrated in detailin FIG. 8, includes a stand portion 34 and a pair of hinge portions 36 aand 36 b formed at opposite ends of the stand portion 34. The standportion 34 of the base member 32 has a through opening 38 configured sothat provide an access to the button surface 28 of the release lever 26when the video display unit 30 is attached to the video player device10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. The stand portion 34 is also providedwith a locking recess 35 complementary to the locking tab 27 of therelease lever 26 formed on the rear panel 12 _(R) of the casing 12 ofthe video player device 10.

The video display panel 42 of the video display unit 30, illustrated indetail in FIG. 10, includes a hollow display casing 44 made of,preferably, appropriate plastic material. The display casing 44 houses adisplay screen 46. Preferably, the display screen 46 is a substantiallyflat liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. The display casing 44 furtherhouses a pair of built-in stereo speakers 48 located on both sides ofthe LCD screen 46 for providing a stereo sound. Also, a plurality(preferably four) of elastic, such as rubber, pad members 50 areprovided on a viewing surface 45 of the display casing 44 adapted toprovide a small clearance between the video display panel 42 and the toppanel 12 _(T) of the player casing 12 when the video display unit 30 isin the stowed position. Moreover, the display casing 44 includesmagnetic inserts 68 oriented so as to register with the magnetic inserts29 on the top panel 12 _(T) of the casing 12 when the video display unit30 is in the stowed position. Thus, the magnetic inserts 29 and 68 actas a locking means for retaining the video display unit 30 is in thestowed position.

The display casing 44 also includes various audio and video controls 52and a pair of stereo headphone jacks 54 a and 54 b. The display casing44 may also include other controls and integration ports to allow thevideo player device 10 to connect and interface with multiple auxiliarydevices.

As further illustrated in FIG. 5, the video display unit 30 is providedwith an audio/video/power signal port 58 provided within the hingeportion 36 a of the base member 32, an S-video input socket 60, a videoinput socket 62 a, two audio input sockets 62 b and a socket 64 for aDC/AC adapter (not shown) provided in the display casing 44 of the videodisplay panel 42. The audio/video/power signal port 58 is adapted to beconnected to one of the monitor connecting sockets 16 of the videoplayer device 10 via an electric cable (not shown). Preferably, a singlecable is employed to form an all-in-one connection (video, audio L/R,voltage source, etc.) to increase the ease in which the video displayunit 30 may be manipulated independently of the video player device 10.Additional audio/video sockets 60, 62 a and 62 b define the electricalinterface of the video display unit 30 adapted to be operably connectedto the electrical interface of the video player device 10 andcommunicate electrical signals therebetween to provide independentconnection to any video player device.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, a lower end of the display casing 44 ispivotally mounted to the hinge portions 36 a and 36 b of the base member32 through a continuous resistance device. The pivotal connection allowsthe video display panel 42 to pivot at least 180° relative to the basemember 32. A latch mechanism includes the cantilevered release lever 26provided with the locking tab 27 to engage the locking recess 35 in thestand portion 34 of the base member 32, thus providing releasableconnection between the video player device 10 and the video display unit30.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, when the video display unit 30 isattached to the video player device 10, opposite end portions of thestand portion 34 of the base member 32 are disposed in the support slots25 a and 25 b formed in the extensions 24 a and 24 b of the casing 12 ofthe video player device 10. In the installed position, the locking tab27 of the cantilevered release lever 26 positively engages the lockingrecess 35 in the stand portion 34 of the base member 32 as illustratedin FIGS. 12 and 13, thus firmly securing the video display unit 30 tothe video player device 10.

A user can easily disengage the video display unit 30 from the videoplayer device 10 by simply depressing the ribbed button surface 28 ofthe release lever 26 by his finger (as the button surface 28 isaccessible through the through opening 38 in the stand portion 34) tobend the release lever 26 away from the stand portion 34 of the basemember 32 into the casing 12 of the video player device 10. This actiondisengages the locking tab 27 from the locking recess 35 in the standportion 34 of the base member 32. At the same time, the user should liftthe stand portion 34 upward to slide the base member 32 out of thesupport slots 25 a and 25 b in the casing 12 of the video player device10.

If the user intends to leave the video display unit 30 attached to thevideo player device 10, the video display panel 42 can be pivoteddownward so that the video display panel 42 is oriented downwardadjacent to the top panel 12 _(T) of the video player device 10 in thestowed position (shown in FIG. 2), or the video display panel 42 can bepivoted upward so that the video display panel 42 projects outwardlyfrom the top panel 12 _(T) of the video player device 10 in the deployedposition (shown in FIG. 1)wherein the display screen 46 is viewable bythe user of the video player assembly.

The video display unit 30 may be electronically connected to the videoplayer device 10 by any method known in the art, such as by a singlecable bundle connected through a single audio/video port in each of thevideo display unit 30 and the video player device 10. Such electronicconnections are well within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill inthe art and need not be elaborated further. The audio/video signal isthus transmitted to the video display unit 30. The video display unit 30includes conventional circuitry and components to display the videoimages and broadcast audio. The video display panel 42 includesassociated audio and video controls 52 on the display casing 44 toadjust the display screen 46 and speaker volume. Such video displaypanel 42 may include LCD display screen. However it is to be understoodthat any display device capable of displaying vide signals may beemployed. An independent power supply may be employed to power the videodisplay panel 42 or a battery compartment may be provided.

In operation, a user simply inserts the opposite end portions of thestand portion 34 of the base member 32 into the support slots 25 a and25 b formed in the extensions 24 a and 24 b of the casing 12 of thevideo player device 10, as illustrated in FIG. 14. The stand portion 34is dimensioned to fit in the support slots 25 a and 25 b formed in theextensions 24 a and 24 b of the casing 12. The front surface of thestand portion 34 substantially conforms to a corresponding portion ofthe rear panel 12 _(R) of the player casing 12 such that the twosurfaces rest substantially flush against one another when connected.The locking tab 27 of the cantilevered release lever 26 projects outwardfrom the rear panel 12 _(R) of the casing 12 such that as the basemember 32 is inserted into the support slots 25 a and 25 b, thecantilevered release lever 26 is forced backwards until the locking tab27 engages the corresponding locking recess 35. When the stand portion34 of the base member 32 is inserted sufficiently into the support slots25 a and 25 b, the cantilevered release lever 26 springs back due to theresiliency thereof and the locking tab 27 engages the locking recess 35.The overall arrangement provides a snug snap fit releasable connectionbetween the video display unit 30 and the video player device 10.

The video display panel 42 may then be adjusted to pivot between thestowed position whereby the display panel 42 rests substantially flushagainst the top panel 12 _(T) of the video player device 10, and thedeployed position suitable to be viewed by the user by manipulating thepivotal connection between the lower end of the video display panel 42and the base member 32. When the video display panel 42 is stored flushagainst the top panel 12 _(T) of the video player device 10, thearrangement of the present invention provides a compact completeportable video player assembly.

As indicated above, the rotatable (pivotal) connection between the basemember 32 and the video display panel 42 of the video display unit 30includes the continuous resistance device that requires a thresholdforce to rotate the video display panel 42 relative to the base member32, thus allowing the video display panel 42 to be infinitely adjustablebetween various angular positions between the stored position and anopen position. Preferably, the video display panel 42 may be rotated inexcess of 180°.

To release the video display unit 30 from the separate video playerdevice 10, the user simply inserts a finger within the through opening38 in the stand portion 34 of the base member 32, depresses the ribbedbutton surface 28 of the release lever 26 by his finger to bend therelease lever 26 away from the stand portion 34 of the base member 32into the casing 12 of the video player device 10 and force the lockingtab 27 out of the corresponding locking recess 35 in the stand portion34 of the base member 32. The video display unit 30 may then be simplypulled out of the support slots 25 a and 25 b in the casing 12 andthereby detached from the video player device 10. The overallarrangement provides a detachable yet secure connection between thevideo display unit 30 and the video player device 10 to positivelyretain the video display unit 30 to the video player device 10.

Moreover, the present invention allows the video display unit 30 to beremoved from the video player device 10 and independently supported onany substantially flat surface. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the basemember 32 is adjusted relative to the video display panel 42 to anangular position allowing the base member 32 to independently supportthe video display panel 42 on a substantially flat surface 70. In otherwords, when the base member 32 is rotated backward, away from theviewing surface of the video display panel 42, the base member 32 mayfunction as an independent stand for the video display panel 42 of thevideo display unit 30, as shown in FIG. 15.

While the present invention is described in relation to the DVD player,the invention is equally suited for use with other electronic videoplayer devices, such as CVD and VCR players, and other similarprocessing units producing an electronic video signal. Although thematerials of construction are not described, they may include a varietyof compositions consistent with the function of the invention.

The description of the preferred embodiments of the present inventionhas been presented for the purpose of illustration in accordance withthe provisions of the Patent Statutes. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Theembodiments disclosed hereinabove were chosen in order to bestillustrate the principles of the present invention and its practicalapplication to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to bestutilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated, as longas the principles described herein are followed. This application istherefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of theinvention using its general principles. Further, this application isintended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as comewithin known or customary practice in the art to which this inventionpertains. Thus, changes can be made in the above-described inventionwithout departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is also intendedthat the scope of the present invention be defined by the claimsappended thereto.

1. A video player assembly comprising: a video player device having aplayer casing provided with at least one display support slot formedthereon; and a video display unit including: a video display panelincluding a viewing surface provided with a display screen; and a basemember mounted to said video display panel, said base member beingdisposed within said at least one display support slot of said playercasing thereby forming a selectively releasable connection between saidplayer casing and said video display panel; said video display memberbeing pivotally mounted to said base member for pivoting between astowed position wherein said video display panel is substantiallyparallel to a top panel of said video player device and a deployedposition wherein said video display panel projects outwardly from saidtop panel of said video player device with said display screen in adisposition which is viewable by a user of said video player assembly.2. The video player assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said playercasing includes a rear panel substantially orthogonal to said top panel,said at least one display support slot is formed adjacent to said rearpanel of said player casing.
 3. The video player assembly as defined inclaim 2, wherein said rear panel of said player casing has twoextensions each forming a support slot provided to receive said basemember of said video display unit therein to support the video displaypanel.
 4. The video player assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein saidbase member of said video display unit includes a stand portion and apair of hinge portions formed at opposite ends of said stand portion;said hinge portions provided for pivotally mounting said video displaypanel to said base member through a continuous resistance device.
 5. Thevideo player assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein opposite endportions of said stand portion of said base member are disposed in saidsupport slots formed in said extensions of said rear panel of saidplayer casing.
 6. The video player assembly as defined in claim 5,further including a locking mechanism provided to relesably positivelysecure said base member of said video display unit to said casing ofsaid video player device.
 7. The video player assembly as defined inclaim 6, wherein said locking mechanism includes at least one releaselever provided with a locking tab that engages a complementary lockingrecess formed in said base member of said video display unit topositively connect said player casing to said base member of said videodisplay unit.
 8. The video player assembly as defined in claim 7,wherein said release lever is formed as a flexible cantilever formedintegrally with said rear panel of said player casing and extendingalong said rear panel of said player casing to facilitate bending ofsaid release lever into said player casing to remove said locking tabfrom said locking recess in said base member of said video display unitand release said video display unit from said video player device. 9.The video player assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said releaselever has a ribbed button surface adapted to be pressed upon to releasesaid locking tab from said complementary locking recess in said basemember.
 10. The video player assembly as defined in claim 9, whereinsaid base member of said video display unit has an opening therethroughformed to provide an access to said button surface of said release leverwhen said video display unit is attached to said video player device.11. The video player assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said toppanel of said player casing is provided with a plurality of controlbuttons for operating said video player device.
 12. The video playerassembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said video display panel pivotsat least 180° relative to said player casing of said video playerdevice.
 13. The video player assembly as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid base member is adjusted relative to said video display panel to anangular position allowing said base member to independently support saidvideo display panel on a substantially flat surface.
 14. The videoplayer assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said video player deviceis electrically connected to said video display unit thereby permittingcommunication of audio and video signals between said video playerdevice and said video display panel.